Comments on: Project SingleSpeed Racer: Race Report 6, Season Finals http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/project-singlespeed-racer-race-report-6-season-finals/ Dirt Rag Staff Blog Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:59:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Fort James http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/project-singlespeed-racer-race-report-6-season-finals/comment-page-1/#comment-1854 Fort James Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:29:26 +0000 http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/project-singlespeed-racer-race-report-6-season-finals/#comment-1854 Just so you do not think I am a total sissy, I meant to say I run 34/19! I will experiment with the 34/18 gearing a bit towards the end of the winter to see how that works for me. I never thought to look at the speeds, but it does make sense that a faster course is probably flatter and less twisty and therefore a larger gear would be required. I do remember reading how both Lalonde's were surprised at the climbs in NY and Mount Snow nationals and went looking for smaller rings and larger cogs, like 34/21 for the XC courses or something along those lines. As always, thanks for your input. I hope you continue writing this series in 2009. James Just so you do not think I am a total sissy, I meant to say I run 34/19!

I will experiment with the 34/18 gearing a bit towards the end of the winter to see how that works for me. I never thought to look at the speeds, but it does make sense that a faster course is probably flatter and less twisty and therefore a larger gear would be required. I do remember reading how both Lalonde’s were surprised at the climbs in NY and Mount Snow nationals and went looking for smaller rings and larger cogs, like 34/21 for the XC courses or something along those lines.

As always, thanks for your input. I hope you continue writing this series in 2009.

James

]]> By: Lath Carlson http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/project-singlespeed-racer-race-report-6-season-finals/comment-page-1/#comment-1851 Lath Carlson Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:55:45 +0000 http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/project-singlespeed-racer-race-report-6-season-finals/#comment-1851 My rule of thumb is to run the biggest gear that I can ride for the steepest climb of the race. On most MASS races that means a 34x18 or 19 on a 29'er. Most of our courses are climbs, twisty singletrack, and downhills. In the Southwest and West I would run a larger gear because there are more flat sections and smoother climbs. In Wiss. the climbs seem to be shorter then on the East Coast. It looks like they are averaging 13-17 MPH in the WORS races, which is a little faster then MASS races. The final race averaged a little over 13MPH for Lalonde, so if that was on a 36/16 I would be surprised. Some of the other WORS races look a lot faster, so for them that would be a normal gear choice. It all comes down to the course. I've found that their is only about a 2 tooth difference in what most SS riders will push on a given course. My rule of thumb is to run the biggest gear that I can ride for the steepest climb of the race. On most MASS races that means a 34×18 or 19 on a 29′er. Most of our courses are climbs, twisty singletrack, and downhills. In the Southwest and West I would run a larger gear because there are more flat sections and smoother climbs. In Wiss. the climbs seem to be shorter then on the East Coast. It looks like they are averaging 13-17 MPH in the WORS races, which is a little faster then MASS races. The final race averaged a little over 13MPH for Lalonde, so if that was on a 36/16 I would be surprised. Some of the other WORS races look a lot faster, so for them that would be a normal gear choice. It all comes down to the course. I’ve found that their is only about a 2 tooth difference in what most SS riders will push on a given course.

]]> By: Fort James http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/project-singlespeed-racer-race-report-6-season-finals/comment-page-1/#comment-1848 Fort James Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:57:45 +0000 http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/project-singlespeed-racer-race-report-6-season-finals/#comment-1848 Lath, What are your thoughts on the Lalonde's running 36/16 (on a 29er) in the Wors races? I have no idea what the terrain is there, but I assume it is like our DE/PA/MD trails and even then, it sounds a bit steep. Do you think a gear that large would work in the Mid Atlantic area? Is it just getting used to that large of a gear or the trails there are so flat and open that they need the large gear? I am intrigued, but I also think something larger than 34/17 (again, on a 29er) would be huge. I run 24/19 in a 29er and I am not sure I want to go any larger. I would like to hear your thoughts. James Lath,

What are your thoughts on the Lalonde’s running 36/16 (on a 29er) in the Wors races? I have no idea what the terrain is there, but I assume it is like our DE/PA/MD trails and even then, it sounds a bit steep. Do you think a gear that large would work in the Mid Atlantic area? Is it just getting used to that large of a gear or the trails there are so flat and open that they need the large gear? I am intrigued, but I also think something larger than 34/17 (again, on a 29er) would be huge. I run 24/19 in a 29er and I am not sure I want to go any larger.

I would like to hear your thoughts.

James

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